Foldable document file with an adjustable volume

ABSTRACT

A foldable document file box with an adjustable volume which can be folded in a flat configuration for easier storage, having two half shells joined by releasable closure elements to permit adjustment of the volume defined by the half shells. The half shells are connected so that they can be placed in a flat configuration while remaining connected. Detent elements are provided to adjust the volume of the document file box in a stepped manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a document file, in particular forarchiving purposes, which can be folded flat and has an adjustablevolume.

Document files of various forms are already known from the state of theart, including those having a parallelepipedal shape with one side andone end which can be opened like a folder and which can contain loosedocuments or folders of documents.

These files of the known art, which are usually made of plastic or stoutcardboard, basically have two main drawbacks:

a large volume when they are empty and being stored either duringproduction or distribution or by the final user;

the need to have various types of files with different volumes andconsequently the need to have several stock items both in production anddistribution, or at the customer's premises, resulting in increasedcosts and complex management of supplies, since it is impossible topredict which size of file will best suit customer requirements

CH 543 973 discloses a document file with an adjustable volumeconstituted of two rigid half shell elements that can be coupledtogether with a dove-tail arrangement in order to define the documentcollection space.

The structure shown in this document is not collapsible to a flat formobtaining a minimum storage space before or after the use.

EP-A-0 099 170 discloses a magazine holder constituted of a single sheetof plastic material that by folding flanges and coupling slots intolocking interrelationship can be made to assume a tridimensionalstructure when erected for storing magazines and the like.

The structure provided by this document provides a fixed space forreceiving magazines or documents that cannot be adjusted either before aduring the use to adapt it to a variable quantity of magazines ordocuments to be contained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved structureof elements for the production of files of the type mentioned abovewhich enables the drawbacks listed above to be overcome.

According to the present invention the document file, which has anadjustable volume and comprises a pair of containing elements forming aninternal component and an external component with complementaryengagement elements that can be coupled together is characterized inthat it can be folded flat and comprises a pair of initially flatelements, separated from each other, designed to make up an internalcomponent and an external component of the file; said elements havingrespective flaps which, once they have been folded at right angles, forma first internal half-shell and a second external half-shell, which canbe inserted one inside the other to form a box-like containing structurewhich can be closed on itself; the flaps which are provided on at leastthree sides of the internal and external components, havingcomplementary engagement elements positioned so as to adjust theconnection of the flaps, for a stepped or similar manner, in order todefine correspondingly adjustable volumes of the file in its assembledand ready-to-use state.

In order to be able to fold the file flat, so that it can be packed,stored and transported easily and conveniently, the flaps forming theside opposite the opening can be opened and include releaseable closureelements. Furthermore, the external half-shell is fitted withidentification accessories.

Preferably, according to the present invention, the male and femalehalf-shells are made from a thermoplastic material with orientedmacromolecules, so as to be able to produce a set of integral hinges atthe points where the two half-shells are folded during assembly of thefile. However, cardboard provided with suitable crease linescorresponding to the lines of folding may also be used.

Again according to the present invention, the two half-shells arepreferably provided with microperforations in order to enable air tocirculate inside the file, thereby providing improved storage conditionsfor the papers contained therein.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearfrom the detailed description which follows which is given withreference to a preferred embodiment of the invention described by way ofillustrative and nonlimiting example and based on the figures shown inthe appended drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the file according to the presentinvention in its assembled state;

FIG. 2 is a slide elevation view showing the file of FIG. 1 in planview;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view showing the file box of FIG. 2with the flaps of the bottom face in an open configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation view showing the file box of FIG. 3folded in a flat configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

With reference to the figures, the file 1 comprises an internalcomponent 2 and external component 3 formed from two flat elements whichare separated from each other. The components 2 and 3 comprise a centralbody 4 and 5, with reference to the internal component 2 and to theexternal component 3 respectively, and have flaps 6-6' at the top andbottom and flaps 7-7' at the rear which are joined to three sides, ofthe central body 4--5 by means of integral hinges, indicateddiagrammatically by 8-8' and obtained during the moulding stage of theinternal and external component during its production.

These integral hinges 8-8' are well known and can be produced when usingplastic materials having oriented macromolecules such as polypropylene,for example MOPLEN by Montedison.

Advantageously, for embodiments of this type recycled and recyclablepolypropylene can be used, resulting in considerable advantages from thepoint of view of reducing the costs of supplying materials.

The flaps 6-6' and 7-7' of the file 1, including the corresponding flapswhich are not visible in FIG. 1, are provided with a series ofprojections and corresponding recesses, indicated as a whole by 9 and10, of complementary shape, so that when they engage inside one anotherthey can define varying thicknesses S of the file in order to formdifferent sizes of file during use of the structure, thereby enablingstocks and archive space to be optimized.

The flaps 6' and 7' are also provided with slots 12 positioned so as toengage with fastening elements 13 such as small expandable andreleasable fasteners shaped like a nail, or similar connection means,which holds the external flaps 6 and 7 in position with respect to theinternal flaps 6' and 7'.

Clearly, the same structure is duplicated for those parts which are notvisible in the figure.

Referring to FIG. 3, the file box is shown with flaps 7 and 7', oppositeto the opening, in an open configuration. Referring to FIG. 4, the filebox is shown in the flat configuration, with flaps 7 and 7' open.

The back and/or one side of the file have, on the external flap 6 and/or7, a finger hole 14 which is line with a corresponding slot 15 formed inthe internal flap 6' and/or 7'.

One or more pockets 16 are also provided and are designed to hold anidentification card of conventional type.

In order to be able to carry it easily, a removable handle (not shown inthe figure) may be attached to the file once it has been assembled.

The internal component 2 and the external component 3 are fitted withopening flaps 17-18 and 18' in order to allow access inside the saidfile. The opening flap 18 is furthermore provided with one or morereversible closure elements 19.

Small feet, indicated diagrammatically at 20, may also be provided onthe internal component 2 in order to give the file greater stabilitywhen it is stacked or placed on shelves or the like.

Preferably, the walls of the file are of an air permeable material, inother words the walls are provided with microholes in order to allow atleast some air to circulate so as to allow the papers contained thereinto "breathe", thereby preventing them from deteriorating.

I claim:
 1. A document storage box having an adjustable volume,comprising:a first sheet component and a second sheet component, eachsheet component including: a central panel having a pair of spacedparallel edges and at least one connecting edge extending between theparallel edges; and a flap hinged to each of the parallel and connectingedges of the central panel, so that each sheet component can be orientedin a flat configuration, and so that each flap of the first sheetcomponent and of the second sheet component can be folded relative tothe respective central panel, to form respectively a first half shelland a second half shell, the flaps of the first half shell overlappingto corresponding flaps of the second half shell to provide an adjustableenclosed volume; slidable elements disposed on the overlapping flapshinged to the parallel edges and releasable slidable closure elementsdisposed on the overlapping flaps hinged to the connecting edges, foradjustably fastening the half shells to each other, and for allowingsaid half shells to be oriented in a flat configuration while connectedby the slidable elements disposed on the flaps of the parallel edges, sothat the document storage box can be placed in a flat configuration; andcomplementary detents disposed on the overlapping flaps of the box, thedetents having complementary projections and recesses disposed on therespective corresponding flaps, for maintaining the enclosed volume towhich the first and second half shells are adjusted.
 2. The documentstorage box of claim 1, wherein identification means are fastened to oneof the half shells.
 3. The document storage box of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second sheet components are made of an air permeable material,enabling air to circulate inside the box.
 4. The document storage box ofclaim 1, wherein the central panel of the second sheet component has anopening hinge parallel to a top face of the box, defining a portion ofsaid central panel between the opening hinge and the top face which isdetached from the two side flaps of the second sheet component, so thatsaid portion of the central panel can be folded to form a large openingof the document storage box.
 5. The document storage box of claim 1,wherein the slidable elements include slots on a first set of flaps andfastening elements on a second set of flaps overlapping the first set offlaps.
 6. The document storage box of claim 1, wherein the complementarydetents are placed at a plurality of locations on at least three pairsof overlapping flaps of the box.
 7. The document storage box of claim 1,wherein small support extensions protrude at the corners of the flapsnear the edges of the central panel of one of the sheet components. 8.The document storage box of claim 1, wherein the first and second sheetcomponents are made from a thermoplastic material.
 9. A document storagebox having an adjustable volume, comprising:a first sheet component anda second sheet component, each sheet component including a rectangularcentral panel having four adjacent edges and a flap connected to eachedge of the central panel by an integral hinge, so that each sheetcomponent can be oriented in a flat configuration, and so that each flapof the first sheet component and of the second sheet component can befolded at right angles to the respective central panel, to formrespectively a first half shell and a second half shell, said first halfshell being insertable into said second half shell to provide anadjustable enclosed volume, and to provide a top, a bottom, and two sidefaces of the box, defined by complementing folded flaps; complementarydetent engagement means disposed on the flaps of said side faces of thebox, the detent engagement means having a plurality of projectionsprotruding from one of the complementing flaps of the side faces, and aplurality of recesses disposed on the other complementary flaps of theside faces in facing contact with said projections, to adjust in astepped manner the adjustable enclosed volume; and releasable closureelements disposed on said side, top and bottom faces to fasten togetherthe complementing folded flaps of said faces, having slots on the flapsof said first half shell, and fastening elements on the flaps of saidsecond half shell in facing contact with said slots, allowing said firstand second half shells to be oriented in a flat configuration whileremaining connected when the releasable closure elements disposed on thetop face and bottom face are in the released configuration, so that thedocument storage box can be placed in a flat configuration, wherein thecentral panel of the second sheet component has an opening hingeparallel to the top face, defining a portion of the central panel of thesecond sheet between the opening hinge and the top face, the portionbeing detached from the two side flaps of the second sheet component, sothat said portion of the central panel can be folded to form a largeopening of the document storage box.
 10. A document storage box havingan adjustable volume, comprising:a first sheet component and a secondsheet component, each sheet component including:a central panel having apair of spaced parallel edges and at least one connecting edge extendingbetween the parallel edges; and a flap hinged to each of the paralleledges and to at least one of the connecting edges of the central panel,so that each sheet component can be oriented in a flat configuration,and so that each flap of the first sheet component and of the secondsheet component can be folded relative to the respective central panel,to form respectively a first half shell and a second half shell, theflaps of the first and second half shells overlapping to provide anadjustable enclosed volume; and slidable elements disposed on theoverlapping flaps hinged to the parallel edges and releasable slidableclosure elements disposed on the overlapping flaps hinged to theconnecting edges, for adjustably fastening the half shells to eachother, and for allowing said half shells to be oriented in a flatconfiguration while connected by the slidable elements disposed on theflaps of the parallel edges, so that the document storage box can beplaced in a flat configuration.
 11. The document storage box of claim10, wherein the central panel of one of the first and second sheetcomponents has an opening hinge originating adjacent to one paralleledge and terminating adjacent to the other parallel edge of the centralpanel, defining a portion of said central panel between the openinghinge and a top face of the box which is detached from the two flapshinged to the parallel edges of the sheet component, so that saidportion of the central panel can be folded to form a large opening ofthe document storage box.